Rebels Edges Out By Stones

Once again Slough could not get a result against another one of the big boys as they didn't make the most of their chances in a totally dominant second
half.

Going into the match, Slough made one change to the team that drew at Great Wakering, as Sammy Winston came into the starting eleven and Deji Davies took his place on the bench.

In the opening twenty minutes, the match was a very scrappy affair with very few chances to either side. Slough's best chance came after 8 minutes when Winston made a run into the right side of the penalty area, but his lofted cross-shot was held well by Andy Carter, in the Wealdstone goal. The opening period of play also brought about a fiery altercation between the Wealdstone bench and the referee which caused a lengthy stoppage, a period of time that would inadvertently come back to benefit Wealdstone at the end of the half.

As the game progressed Wealdstone took more and more ontrol, and on 23 minutes made the breakthrough. A free-kick from the left by Tyrone Hercules was headed in at the back post by Marvin Morgan, who had got the first goal in the fixture at Wexham Park earlier on in the season.

The next ten minutes were all Wealdstone as Slough Struggled to get a foothold in the match. Their pressure was rewarded in the 31st minute as Paul Barrowcliff hacked down Morgan in the corner of the penalty area and the referee, Mr Merchant, had no alternative but to point to the spot. Wealdstone's top scorer, Mick Swaysland, stepped up and despatched the
penalty into the left hand corner.

Going 2-0 down seemed to put some life into the Rebels who had their first serious shot on goal 4 minutes before the break. Tony Boot shot across the goal and Winston's header managed to deflect the ball back towards the near post. It would have made the score 2-1 had it not been for a flying save by Andy Carter, who seems to have an excellent game whenever he plays against Slough.

From the resulting corner, Steve Daly almost got on the end of a Winston cross-shot, but despite being unmarked at the far post the ball took a huge bobble just at the wrong time and bounced over his foot. A minute later though and Slough did have one back. A floated ball into the box from Michael Gilkes was flicked goalwards with the faintest touch from Ryan Spencer. The ball carried on into the corner of the net but it seemed as though Slough's celebrations would be short lived as the linesman's flag was raised. However, after discussion between him and the referee the goal stood, causing more uproar amongst the Wealdstone players.

Slough looked to have pulled it back ready for a big push in the 2nd half. Then, as the match moved into 1st half injury time, they suffered another massive body blow. As Christian Metcalfe chased Hercules back into the Slough box, the players seemed to come together in what looked like an honest collision. However, to the dismay of the Slough fans, the referee once again pointed to the spot and Swaysland again scored into the same corner, despite this time Gray McCann going the right way.

The second 45 turned out to be as much of a dominant display as Slough have shown all season and the only thing missing was the cutting edge. Inside the first 18 minutes of the second period both Daly and Boot had gone close with headers, Daly's straight at the keeper and Boot's well wide when unmarked. With 68 minutes gone Slough had their best chance so far to pull one back. A cross from Spencer found Winston who, has the ball arrived tumbled over but still did his best to divert the ball goalwards. It was eventually pushed back to Boot who then set up the onrushing Darron Wilkinson. While it was a chance that Boot or Winston may have tucked away with ease, Wilkinson with one goal in about three seasons, managed to slice it well wide.

Slough made three substitutions as the game wore on, Ryan Williams, Byron Bubb and Davies replacing Metcalfe, David Rainford and the out of sorts Michael Gilkes.

The pressure was kept on by the Rebels and with ten minutes to go had two real chances to pull the game back. Firstly, Spencer's shot was cleared off the line by Billy Amarteifio and from the follow up cross Williams managed to put another unchallenged header well over the bar.

It really did look like it wasn't going to be Slough's day when, through one on one with the keeper, Boot who is normally so reliable in these situations, managed to place his shot high and wide with eight minutes left.

Suddenly Slough had a lifeline as a quick free-kick from Spencer found Williams on the edge and his curling shot across the goal found the corner and the players and fans had some hope for the final five minutes.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, Wealdstone managed to keep the pressure away from their goal with some hefty clearances and what looked like some poor gamesmanship as many of their players went down injured approaching the end of the game.

The players, however, should be credited for a spirited team performance today in a dominant second half performance. They will unfortunately have to look back at a poor first 30 minutes and some debatable refereeing decisions as to the main reason that the match was just beyond them.